- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984
- Contents
- Part I—Preliminary
- Part II—Protection of significant Aboriginal areas and objects
- Part IIA—Victorian Aboriginal cultural
- Division 1—Preliminary
- Division 2—Preservation of Victorian Aboriginal cultural property
- 21C Emergency declaration of preservation
- 21D Temporary declaration of preservation
- 21E Declaration of preservation
- 21EA Declarations have effect subject to certificates undersection 12 of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986
- 21F Arbitration
- 21G Notices
- 21H Offence to contravene declaration
- 21J Obligation to protect land
- 21K Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Agreements
- 21L Compulsory acquisition
- 21M Compensation for acquisition of property
- 21N Compensation may be paid in certain circumstances
- Division 3—Discovery and disposal of Aboriginal remains
- Division 4—Miscellaneous
- Part III—Offences, penalties and legal proceedings
- Part IV—Miscellaneous
- Schedule—Local Aboriginal communities
- Notes to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984
Act No. 79 of 1984 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 11 December 2006 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 152 of 2006
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
Part I—Preliminary 1 1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 3 Interpretation..................................................................................... 1 4 Purposes of Act .................................................................................3 5 Extension to Territories.....................................................................3 6 Act binds the Crown..........................................................................3 6A Application of the Criminal Code ..................................................... 3 7 Application of other laws ..................................................................3 8 ApplicationofAct............................................................................. 4 8A Application of Part II to Victoria.......................................................5
Part II—Protection of significant Aboriginal areas and objects 6
Division 1—Declarations by Minister 6 9 Emergency declarations in relation to areas ......................................6 10 Other declarations in relation to areas ...............................................6 11 Contents of declarations under section 9 or 10..................................8 12 Declarations in relation to objects .....................................................8 13 Makingofdeclarations...................................................................... 9 14 Publication and commencement of declarations..............................10 16 Refusal to make declaration.............................................................10
Division 2—Declarations by authorized officers 12 17 Authorised officers..........................................................................12 18 Emergency declarations in relation to areas or objects....................12 19 Notificationofdeclarations............................................................. 13
Division 3—Discovery and disposal of Aboriginal remains 14 20 Discovery of Aboriginal remains.....................................................14 21 DisposalofAboriginalremains....................................................... 14
Part IIA—Victorian Aboriginal cultural heritage 15
Division 1—Preliminary 15 21A Interpretation................................................................................... 15 21B Delegation .......................................................................................16
Division 2—Preservation of Victorian Aboriginal cultural property 18 21C Emergency declaration of preservation ...........................................18 21D Temporary declaration of preservation............................................19 21E Declaration of preservation .............................................................20
21EA Declarations have effect subject to certificates under section 12 of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986........................................................................................... 22
21F Arbitration....................................................................................... 22 21G Notices............................................................................................. 22 21H Offence to contravene declaration...................................................23 21J Obligation to protect land................................................................24 21K Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Agreements.......................................24 21L Compulsory acquisition...................................................................25 21M Compensation for acquisition of property .......................................25 21N Compensation may be paid in certain circumstances ......................25
Division 3—Discovery and disposal of Aboriginal remains 26 21P Discovery of Aboriginal remains.....................................................26 21Q DisposalofAboriginalremains....................................................... 26
Division 4—Miscellaneous 27 21R Inspectors ........................................................................................27 21S Power to enter, search etc................................................................27 21T Honorarykeepersor wardens..........................................................29 21U Defacing property............................................................................29 21V Register............................................................................................ 30 21W General meetings of local Aboriginal communities.........................31 21X Negotiationfor returnofAboriginalremains..................................31 21Y Indictable offences...........................................................................31 21Z Evidence.......................................................................................... 32 21ZA Alcoa smelter site exempted............................................................32
Part III—Offences, penalties and legal proceedings 33 22 Offences and penalties.....................................................................33 23 Indictable offences...........................................................................34 24 Evidence.......................................................................................... 34 25 Body corporate responsible for acts of servants and agents.............35 26 Injunctions....................................................................................... 35 27 Proceedings in camera .....................................................................37 28 Compensation for acquisition of property .......................................37 29 Powers of courts not limited............................................................37 30 Legal assistance...............................................................................37
Part IV—Miscellaneous 39 31 Delegation .......................................................................................39 32 Regulations...................................................................................... 39
Schedule—Local Aboriginal communities 40
Notes 41
An Act to preserve and protect places, areas and objects of particular significance to Aboriginals, and for related purposes
Part I—Preliminary
1 Short title [see Note 1]
This Act may be cited as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984.
2 Commencement [see Note 1]
This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
3 Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
Aboriginal means a member of the Aboriginal race of Australia, and includes a descendant of the indigenous inhabitants of the Torres Strait Islands.
Aboriginal remains means the whole or part of the bodily remains of an Aboriginal, but does not include: - (a)
- a body or the remains of a body:
- (i)
- buried in accordance with the law of a State or Territory; or
- (ii)
- buried in land that is, in accordance with Aboriginal tradition, used or recognized as a burial ground;
- (b)
- an object made from human hair or from any other bodily material that is not readily recognizable as being bodily material; or
- (c)
- a body or the remains of a body dealt with or to be dealt with in accordance with a law of a State or Territory relating to medical treatment or post-mortem examinations.
Aboriginal tradition means the body of traditions, observances, customs and beliefs of Aboriginals generally or of a particular
Section 3
community or group of Aboriginals, and includes any such traditions, observances, customs or beliefs relating to particular persons, areas, objects or relationships.
area includes a site.
Australian waters means:
- (a)
- the territorial sea of Australia and any sea on the landward side of that territorial sea;
- (b)
- the territorial sea of an external Territory and any sea on the landward side of that territorial sea; or
- (c)
- the sea over the continental shelf of Australia.
Federal Court means the Federal Court of Australia.
significant Aboriginal area means:
- (a)
- an area of land in Australia or in or beneath Australian waters;
- (b)
- an area of water in Australia; or
- (c)
- an area of Australian waters;
being an area of particular significance to Aboriginals in accordance with Aboriginal tradition.
significant Aboriginal object means an object (including Aboriginal remains) of particular significance to Aboriginals in accordance with Aboriginal tradition.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, an area or object shall be taken to be injured or desecrated if: - (a)
- in the case of an area:
- (i)
- it is used or treated in a manner inconsistent with Aboriginal tradition;
- (ii)
- by reason of anything done in, on or near the area, the use or significance of the area in accordance with Aboriginal tradition is adversely affected; or
(iii) passage through or over, or entry upon, the area by any person occurs in a manner inconsistent with Aboriginal tradition; or
- (b)
- in the case of an object—it is used or treated in a manner
inconsistent with Aboriginal tradition; and references in this Act to injury or desecration shall be construed accordingly.
Section 4
(3) For the purposes of this Act, an area or object shall be taken to be under threat of injury or desecration if it is, or is likely to be, injured or desecrated.
4 Purposes of Act
The purposes of this Act are the preservation and protection from injury or desecration of areas and objects in Australia and in Australian waters, being areas and objects that are of particular significance to Aboriginals in accordance with Aboriginal tradition.
5 Extension to Territories
This Act extends to every external Territory.
6 Act binds the Crown
This Act binds the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, of each of the States, of the Northern Territory and of Norfolk Island.
6A Application of the Criminal Code
Chapter 2 (other than Part 2.5) of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.
7 Application of other laws
(1) This Act, except Part IIA, is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of a law of a State or Territory that is capable of operating concurrently with this Act.
(1A) Part IIA is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of:
(a) any provision of the Archeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972 of Victoria in so far as it applies to or in relation to an entry made in a register, or a declaration made, under that Act before the commencement of the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection
Amendment Act 1987; or
Section 8
(b) any other law of Victoria (other than a law for the preservation or protection of Aboriginal cultural property within the meaning of Part IIA) except as referred to in paragraph (a);
that is capable of operating concurrently with that Part. - (2)
- A law of a Territory has effect to the extent to which it is not inconsistent with a provision of the regulations, or of a declaration under this Act, having effect in that Territory, but such a law shall not be taken for the purposes of this subsection to be inconsistent with such a provision to the extent that it is capable of operating concurrently with that provision.
- (3)
- Where:
- (a)
- a law of a State or Territory deals with a matter dealt with in this Act; and
- (b)
- an act or omission by a person that constitutes an offence against that law also constitutes an offence against this Act or an offence referred to in paragraph 23(1)(b);
the person may be prosecuted and convicted under that law or under this Act, the Criminal Code or the Crimes Act 1914, as the case may be, but nothing in this subsection renders a person liable to be punished more than once in respect of the same act or omission.
(4) Nothing in this Act derogates from the rights of any person to any remedy consistent with this Act that he or she would have apart from this Act.
8 Application of Act - (1)
- Subject to subsection (2), this Act applies, according to its tenor, to all persons, including foreigners, and to all vessels, including foreign vessels, whether or not they are within Australia or Australian waters.
- (2)
- This Act has effect subject to the obligations of Australia under international law, including obligations under any agreement between Australia and another country or other countries.
8A Application of Part II to Victoria - (1)
- The Minister shall not make a declaration under Division 1 of Part II in relation to an area or object in Victoria unless the Minister is satisfied that:
- (a)
- the applicant for the declaration has made an application in relation to the area or object under Part IIA and the application has been rejected; or
- (b
Act No. 79 of 1984 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 11 December 2006 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 152 of 2006
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Part I—Preliminary 1 1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 3 Interpretation..................................................................................... 1 4 Purposes of Act .................................................................................3 5 Extension to Territories.....................................................................3 6 Act binds the Crown..........................................................................3 6A Application of the Criminal Code ..................................................... 3 7 Application of other laws ..................................................................3 8 ApplicationofAct............................................................................. 4 8A Application of Part II to Victoria.......................................................5
Part II—Protection of significant Aboriginal areas and objects 6
Division 1—Declarations by Minister 6 9 Emergency declarations in relation to areas ......................................6 10 Other declarations in relation to areas ...............................................6 11 Contents of declarations under section 9 or 10..................................8 12 Declarations in relation to objects .....................................................8 13 Makingofdeclarations...................................................................... 9 14 Publication and commencement of declarations..............................10 16 Refusal to make declaration.............................................................10
Division 2—Declarations by authorized officers 12 17 Authorised officers..........................................................................12 18 Emergency declarations in relation to areas or objects....................12 19 Notificationofdeclarations............................................................. 13
Division 3—Discovery and disposal of Aboriginal remains 14 20 Discovery of Aboriginal remains.....................................................14 21 DisposalofAboriginalremains....................................................... 14
Part IIA—Victorian Aboriginal cultural heritage 15
Division 1—Preliminary 15 21A Interpretation................................................................................... 15 21B Delegation .......................................................................................16
Division 2—Preservation of Victorian Aboriginal cultural property 18 21C Emergency declaration of preservation ...........................................18 21D Temporary declaration of preservation............................................19 21E Declaration of preservation .............................................................20
21EA Declarations have effect subject to certificates under section 12 of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986........................................................................................... 22
21F Arbitration....................................................................................... 22 21G Notices............................................................................................. 22 21H Offence to contravene declaration...................................................23 21J Obligation to protect land................................................................24 21K Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Agreements.......................................24 21L Compulsory acquisition...................................................................25 21M Compensation for acquisition of property .......................................25 21N Compensation may be paid in certain circumstances ......................25
Division 3—Discovery and disposal of Aboriginal remains 26 21P Discovery of Aboriginal remains.....................................................26 21Q DisposalofAboriginalremains....................................................... 26
Division 4—Miscellaneous 27 21R Inspectors ........................................................................................27 21S Power to enter, search etc................................................................27 21T Honorarykeepersor wardens..........................................................29 21U Defacing property............................................................................29 21V Register............................................................................................ 30 21W General meetings of local Aboriginal communities.........................31 21X Negotiationfor returnofAboriginalremains..................................31 21Y Indictable offences...........................................................................31 21Z Evidence.......................................................................................... 32 21ZA Alcoa smelter site exempted............................................................32
Part III—Offences, penalties and legal proceedings 33 22 Offences and penalties.....................................................................33 23 Indictable offences...........................................................................34 24 Evidence.......................................................................................... 34 25 Body corporate responsible for acts of servants and agents.............35 26 Injunctions....................................................................................... 35 27 Proceedings in camera .....................................................................37 28 Compensation for acquisition of property .......................................37 29 Powers of courts not limited............................................................37 30 Legal assistance...............................................................................37
Part IV—Miscellaneous 39 31 Delegation .......................................................................................39 32 Regulations...................................................................................... 39
Schedule—Local Aboriginal communities 40
Notes 41
An Act to preserve and protect places, areas and objects of particular significance to Aboriginals, and for related purposes
This Act may be cited as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984.
This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
Aboriginal means a member of the Aboriginal race of Australia, and includes a descendant of the indigenous inhabitants of the Torres Strait Islands.
Aboriginal remains means the whole or part of the bodily remains of an Aboriginal, but does not include: Aboriginal tradition means the body of traditions, observances, customs and beliefs of Aboriginals generally or of a particular
Section 3
community or group of Aboriginals, and includes any such traditions, observances, customs or beliefs relating to particular persons, areas, objects or relationships.
area includes a site.
Federal Court means the Federal Court of Australia.
being an area of particular significance to Aboriginals in accordance with Aboriginal tradition.
significant Aboriginal object means an object (including Aboriginal remains) of particular significance to Aboriginals in accordance with Aboriginal tradition.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, an area or object shall be taken to be injured or desecrated if: inconsistent with Aboriginal tradition; and references in this Act to injury or desecration shall be construed accordingly.
Section 4
(3) For the purposes of this Act, an area or object shall be taken to be under threat of injury or desecration if it is, or is likely to be, injured or desecrated.
4 Purposes of Act
The purposes of this Act are the preservation and protection from injury or desecration of areas and objects in Australia and in Australian waters, being areas and objects that are of particular significance to Aboriginals in accordance with Aboriginal tradition.
5 Extension to Territories
This Act extends to every external Territory.
6 Act binds the Crown
This Act binds the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, of each of the States, of the Northern Territory and of Norfolk Island.
6A Application of the Criminal Code
Chapter 2 (other than Part 2.5) of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.
7 Application of other laws
(1) This Act, except Part IIA, is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of a law of a State or Territory that is capable of operating concurrently with this Act.
(1A) Part IIA is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of:
(a) any provision of the Archeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972 of Victoria in so far as it applies to or in relation to an entry made in a register, or a declaration made, under that Act before the commencement of the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection
Amendment Act 1987; or
Section 8
(b) any other law of Victoria (other than a law for the preservation or protection of Aboriginal cultural property within the meaning of Part IIA) except as referred to in paragraph (a);
that is capable of operating concurrently with that Part. the person may be prosecuted and convicted under that law or under this Act, the Criminal Code or the Crimes Act 1914, as the case may be, but nothing in this subsection renders a person liable to be punished more than once in respect of the same act or omission.
(4) Nothing in this Act derogates from the rights of any person to any remedy consistent with this Act that he or she would have apart from this Act.
8 Application of Act 8A Application of Part II to Victoria Contents
Part I—Preliminary
1 Short title [see Note 1]
2 Commencement [see Note 1]
3 Interpretation
Australian waters means:
significant Aboriginal area means:
(iii) passage through or over, or entry upon, the area by any person occurs in a manner inconsistent with Aboriginal tradition; or